ZIM SMITH TRAIL LETTERBOX:
MALTA, NEW YORK
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Planted: August 3, 2009
Length: Zim Smith Trail; 7.5 miles
Ruhle Road to Letterbox: 0.3 miles
Shenantaha Creek Park to Letterbox; 1.1 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Flat, paved and stone-dust rail trail. Paved; 3 miles center section. Stone-dust; 0.8 miles northern section, 3.7 miles southern section.
Directions:
To start from Shenentaha Creek Park; From I-87 take exit 12 to Route 67 west. Travel 1.5 miles to East Line Rd and turn left. The park entrance is a 1/2 mile along East Line Rd on your left.
To start from Coons Crossing Road parking lot; From I-87 take exit 10 to Ushers Rd east. Cross Route 9 and at the fork continue left on Ushers Rd. After crossing over the RR tracks take your next left on Coons Crossing Rd. Cross over the RR tracks again and the parking lot will be on your left. Note; Coons Crossing Rd continues out to Route 67.
The Zim Smith Trail runs along the former rail bed of the D & H North South Railroad corridor. The trail was named after Zim Smith who dedicated himself to the development of outdoor recreation in Saratoga County. The trail runs from Ballston Spa-Malta-Round Lake and Halfmoon. Another 2 miles of trail have been funded to complete the trail north in Ballston Spa. Future plans could include expanding the trail another 3.5 miles east to Mechanicville and another 5 miles north to the Saratoga Spa State Park in Saratoga Springs.
Starting from Coons Crossing Rd parking lot; This section of the trail travels along a wide stone-dust surface. Wooden mile marker posts are located every 1/2 mile. The trail starts out in the open as you travel past a marsh and pond. After a mile the trail becomes more wooded and shaded and takes you over Dwass Kill. Cross English Rd after 1 3/4 miles and travel over Route 9 via an old RR bridge at 2.7 miles. You'll enter the Village of Round Lake and come to a parking lot and sign board at 3.4 miles. Cross Curry Ave and you pass by a playground and picnic area. The last mile marker along the trail is here (3.5 miles). After crossing Goldfoot Rd at 3.7 miles the trail becomes paved. Look right for an old RR Mile Marker on your right after crossing Morris Rd. It appears to have read RP 165? At 4.4 miles you head up and over the Round Lake By-pass via a new iron arched bridge. Next you'll travel underneath I-87. At 5 miles you travel through a shallow dirt cut. Just before you exit the cut look to your left for three large rocks along the top of the cut. This will be just before a "25 MPH" sign located on the right and is 31 paces (2 steps = 1 pace) back from a brown sign reading "Please Do Not Litter". Just in front of these three rocks will be a tree shaped like a V. Go to the backside of the rocks and remove a single middle stone to reveal the Zim Smith Trail Letterbox. A flat rock has been placed on top of the box to help protect it. Continuing along the trail you come to Ruhle Road at 5.4 miles. Appears to be some parking available along the road. Next the trail travels along a ridge with steep drops along your right. You'll pass by the first of two benches behind which streams run down the hill and under the trail. Both are very scenic. At 6.2 miles you'll come to a sign board and parking lot at Shenantaha Creek Park.
Note; Restrooms, a pavilion and picnic tables are located in the park.
The trail opens up and you'll come to a cross-walk over East Line Dr at 6.7 miles. The trail then reverts back to stone-dust. A gas station is located here if you need to grab a dink or snack. The trail comes alongside Route 67, travels through some fields, passes through a tunnel under Route 67 and currently ends at Underpass Rd after 7.5 miles. The trail has been funded for a two mile extension from here to Oak Street in Ballston Spa. No time table for completion has been given as of August 2009.
HH
LETTERBOX LAST VERIFIED ON
AUGUST 3, 2009
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BIKE IT OR HIKE IT LETTERBOXING